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Mazda's all-new CX-5 is officially one of the safest cars in the world after receiving five-stars - the highest possible safety rating - from Euro NCAP.

The CX-5, a compact crossover SUV that went on sale in the UK earlier this month, achieved top marks in all four safety categories*. Its grades for adult occupant protection, child occupant protection and safety assist systems (94 percent, 87 percent and 86 percent respectively) were well above the 80 percent, 75 percent and 60 percent thresholds required in each category to collect the maximum five stars. Mazda's latest model attained the maximum safety rating despite being subject to the higher pedestrian protection standards introduced by Euro NCAP in 2012, an area in which vehicles must now score at least 60 percent.

After the Mazda3 and Mazda6, the CX-5 is the third Mazda model to earn five stars from Euro NCAP since the introduction of its new rating system in 2009. The scores in each category are determined based on several crash tests, including a 64km/h (40mph) frontal collision, 50km/h (31mph) vehicle-to-vehicle side impact, 29km/h (18mph) pole side impact, and 40km/h (25mph) simulated pedestrian impact. Among other active and passive safety measures, Euro NCAP also evaluated the CX-5's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system, Mazda's equivalent to electronic stability control (ESC).

The first of a new generation of Mazda models, the CX-5 is the first equipped with the innovative new SKYACTIV body. With the aim of developing the ideal car body, Mazda's engineers went back to the drawing board, rethinking the fundamental principles of structure, materials and manufacturing methods.

As a result, high-tensile steels comprise 61 percent of the body. In particular, beams inside the front and rear bumpers are made from 1,800 MPa ultra high-tensile steel - the strongest ever used in a production car. The Mazda CX-5 therefore not only delivers superior crash safety, but is also extremely lightweight. Mazda plans to use the SKYACTIV body in all of its new-generation products.